Experts: Watch water, sewer

Some cities face infrastructure issues other than roads.

Some cities face infrastructure issues other than roads.

LANSING Â? The public worries more about dilapidated roads than decaying water and sewer lines, but Michigan's underground and out-of-sight infrastructure is also at risk, experts warn.

At a recent forum hosted by the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, experts said that the state's water and sewage infrastructure are at risk for serious corrosion. Many cities are unable to fix the water and sewage lines because of lack of funding.

Chip Heckathorn, of the Department of Environmental Quality, said failing to improve underground infrastructure could have adverse effects.

"People need to realize that every drop of drinking water is coming from the ground or our service sources," he said. "Every drop of wastewater is discharged in the exact same places.

"In order to make sure we have clean drinking water, we have to make sure we can adequately collect wastewater."

However, water and sewage pipes are holding up in some areas.

"Overall, I'd say the condition of our pipes is fair," said James Rozeboom, Three Rivers clean water plant director.

Likewise, in Traverse City, Mich., water and sewage infrastructure are in decent condition, according to the city's public service director.

"We have a couple of places that just by the nature of the ground where the soil eats away at the pipes," Bob Cole said. "But in most places, our water pipes are pretty stable.

"Even some of the oldest pipes are in good shape. I don't see it as a huge problem."

Heckathorn said that underground infrastructure conditions are worst in the oldest cities that are struggling financially, such as Benton Harbor, River Rouge, Mich., and Detroit.

Rozeboom said that the underground infrastructure in Three Rivers does require maintenance.

"We've been continually replacing things," he said. "We have manholes that are in need of repair. We have many sewers along the rivers, and some leak when the water gets high."

Cole said that while there isn't enough public awareness about water and sewage pipes, his department can still maintain pipes through water and sewage fees.

"There's an issue that what you can't see you don't worry about too much," he said. "I don't think there's enough attention paid to underground infrastructure, but it's a little easier to take care of than roads simply because we have a way to fund them."